The present invention provides systems and methods for producing a shield for protecting an area from a pressure blast. The shield, which attenuates the pressure blast, can be used with tall, mobile, and underwater structures, including structures in densely populated areas. One system

The present invention provides systems and methods for producing a shield for protecting an area from a pressure blast. The shield, which attenuates the pressure blast, can be used with tall, mobile, and underwater structures, including structures in densely populated areas. One system

The present invention provides systems and methods for producing a shield for protecting an area from a pressure blast. The shield, which attenuates the pressure blast, can be used with tall, mobile, and underwater structures, including structures in densely populated areas. One system

A vibration isolator is provided that includes a plurality of elastomeric members. The vibration isolator also includes first and second supports. The first and second supports cooperate with the plurality of elastomeric members to isolate and damp vibration between the first and second

A tension-relieving apparatus for reducing a level of tension in a structure. The tension-relieving apparatus includes a housing, a piston, a spacer member and a heat source. The housing has a wall member that defines a piston cavity. A rod aperture is formed in a first end of the wa

A lateral acceleration force isolator that forms a part of an attachment fitting for a payload, such as a spacecraft or satellite, and launch vehicle assembly. An upper portion of the isolator is designed to be attached to the payload and a lower portion is designed to be attached to

An acceleration force isolator assembly for attaching a payload, such as a spacecraft or satellite, to a launch vehicle wherein axial acceleration forces on the payload are attenuated. The attachment includes an upper interface ring that is secured to the payload and a lower interface ri

An umbilical and follower assembly for preventing unwanted movements of a frame from being transmitted by an umbilical cord to a microgravity platform as may be utilized on an orbiting space vehicle. The follower assembly includes a plurality of actuators capable of moving an umbilical

In a system for in-situ delamination detection in composites, the invention employs a system which evaluates the mechanical vibration response of composite material structures. The damping characteristics of the composite structure are extracted from the detected wave properties gene

A position sensor is structurally integrated within a wide-gap magnetic actuator. Being an integral structure, the sensor provides voltages representative of a relative shift in position of the actuator's armature and pole piece from the neutral or base position and represents the actual

Permanent magnets affixed to one structure produce a repelling force to magnets affixed to a larger structure that encloses the one structure to suspend and hold the one structure entirely within the larger structure, without physical contact therebetween.

Microgravity sensitive payloads placed on a platform are isolated from external acceleration forces over extended periods of time in the weightless environment inside an orbiting space vehicle by canceling acceleration on the platform. Wide gap dual axis magnetic actuators and accele